CULLMAN - The American College of Cardiology (ACC) awarded Cullman Regional Heart Failure Accreditation in January, based on “rigorous onsite review of the staff’s ability to evaluate, diagnose and treat patients with heart failure through pre-hospital care, early stabilization, acute care, transitional care, clinical quality measures and more,” according to a media release from the hospital.

Heart failure is a condition where the heart is unable to pump enough blood to meet the body’s needs for blood and oxygen. “Hospitals that employ an evidence-based, protocol-driven and systematic approach to managing heart failure have been able to reduce time to treatment, and are able to identify and predict high-risk patients while also reducing length-of-stay and hospital readmissions.”

“ACC Accreditation Services is proud to bestow Heart Failure Accreditation on Cullman Regional,” said Abraham Joseph, vice president of ACC Accreditation Services. “We commend Cullman Regional for its demonstrated leadership and commitment to providing the Cullman Area and surrounding region with excellent care of heart failure patients.”

Hospitals receiving Heart Failure Accreditation from the ACC must take part in a multi-faceted clinical process that involves: completing a gap analysis; examining variances of care, developing an action plan; a rigorous onsite review; and monitoring for sustained success. Improved methods and strategies of caring for patients include streamlining processes, implementing of guidelines and standards, and adopting best practices in the precise care of heart failure patients. Facilities that achieve accreditation meet or exceed an array of stringent criteria and have organized a team of doctors, nurses, clinicians, and other administrative staff that earnestly support the efforts leading to better patient education, improved patient outcomes, and more effective and efficient disease control.

“We are excited to have our cardiovascular team’s efforts recognized for excellence,” James Clements, Cullman Regional CEO said. “Not only does our staff provide quality care for heart failure patients in the hospital, but we’ve made it a priority to help educate these patients on how to manage their symptoms in order to reduce the need for them to be admitted to the hospital for care.”

Cullman Regional is a licensed and accredited 145-bed facility which serves more than 175,000 people. Over the past three years, Cullman Regional has received three accreditation recognitions from the American College of Cardiology including Chest Pain Accreditation, Cath Lab Accreditation (first in the State of Alabama and second in the nation) and now Heart Failure Accreditation. This dedication to continuous improvement of heart care proves Cullman Regional’s commitment to providing the highest quality heart care to their patients.

The ACC and American Heart Association are collaborating to offer U.S. hospitals like Cullman Regional access to a comprehensive suite of co-branded cardiac accreditation services designed to optimize patient outcomes and improve hospital financial performance. These services are focused on all aspects of cardiac care, including heart failure.

For more information about ACC Accreditation Services, visit accreditation.acc.org, or call toll-free 1-877-271-4176.